Maine Episcopal Network for Justice

The Maine Episcopal Network for Justice (MENJ) invites Episcopalians and all others who are committed to working toward justice and peace for all people and public policies that respect the dignity of every human being, both in the State of Maine, the United States, and the world. Members of this group work, with God's help, to affirm the essential relationship between what we believe and how we live.

With a $30,000 grant from The Episcopal Church's Office for Social Justice and Advocacy, the Diocese of Maine has launched the Maine Episcopal Network for Justice (MENJ), a grassroots public policy network.

The hope for MENJ is based on a belief that people of faith have a unique voice to share on the real crises that many Mainers experience every day. MENJ will work with ecumenical, Interfaith, and community partners on common concerns through the legislative process. MENJ will work to implement social policy teachings and commitments of the Episcopal Church at the statewide and local levels through engaging grassroots leadership in the 60 congregations across Maine through training and information sessions.

We will focus our advocacy, organizing, and education efforts on the Gospel imperatives: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, welcoming the stranger, freeing the captive, ministering to the sick, caring for creation, and giving voice to the most vulnerable among us.

We invite Maine Episcopalians to participate in a number of ways:

Invite John Hennessy, director of MENJ to come to your church (your Vestry or Bishop's Committee or an education forum or during announcements) to talk about the Network and answer questions about important issues in Maine, including the upcoming legislative session. Be in touch with John to set a date at .

Through engaging in analysis, education, advocacy, and through supporting members, congregations, and Jubilee Centers and other social ministry organizations in their call to public witness, MENJ seeks to help fulfill God's vision of justice among God's people and Jesus' call to care for our neighbors.

As Mainers well know our motto, Dirigo, means "to lead." With the opportunity this grant affords us in establishing MENJ, the Diocese of Maine will lead members of the wider Episcopal Church in learning to articulate compelling voices of faith so that the wider world might hear God's vision for the world.

From our Twitter feeds

iamepiscopalian
“My experience opened me up in so many ways to recognize God in all that’s around me.” When you serve w/ #YASC , you'll return transformed. In this video, Stephen Smith describes how his life changed after serving in Grahamstown, S.A. buff.ly/2QTYAq7 #Episcopal pic.twitter.com/2WwCSGw8fr

08:00PM Nov 19

iamepiscopalian
We go to become Beloved Community, a people reconciled in love with God and one another. *To what new places or communities is the Holy Spirit sending you to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God?* 2/2 #WayofLove #Episcopal pic.twitter.com/KpeoFIvdJ6

05:01PM Nov 19

iamepiscopalian
As Jesus went to the highways and byways, he sends us beyond our circles and comfort, to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God with our lips and with our lives. We go to listen with humility and to join God in healing a hurting world. 1/2 #WayofLove #Episcopal

episcopal_news
Under the Diocese of Dallas' plan for allowing same-sex marriage, an outside bishop takes over all sacramental and liturgical oversight of parishes wishing to offer the rites. Three Dallas parishes have made that request so far. bit.ly/2zVhgOX

iamepiscopalian
At the end of Matthew’s gospel, after Mary Magdalene and the women have noticed that Jesus’ body was gone from the tomb, an angel says to them, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said... 1/3

07:10PM Nov 14

iamepiscopalian
*How is the Spirit calling you to bless others?* Jesus called his disciples to give, forgive, teach, & heal in his name. We're empowered by the Spirit to bless everyone we meet, practicing generosity & compassion & proclaiming the Good News of God in Christ. #Episcopal #WayofLove pic.twitter.com/q0RZcloK8t

06:00PM Nov 12

iamepiscopalian
Meet our current #YASC -ers who are deployed around the world! Visit buff.ly/2qGHvoh to meet Mitchel, Elizabeth, Lexy, Zach, Hal, Kellan, Lydia, Madeline, and Greg. Please pray for each of them by name as they serve God and neighbor. Check out their blogs, too! #Episcopal pic.twitter.com/ge2y9S5iU5

07:14PM Nov 07

episcopal_news
Registering voters, serving as polling places, providing ballot information, promoting civil discourse – there are many ways Episcopalians and congregations this year are getting active in the electoral process. bit.ly/2zaPgq0 #votefaithfully

iamepiscopalian
Whether in thought, word or deed, individually or corporately, when we pray, we invite and dwell in God’s loving presence. *How do you incorporate prayer into your daily life? Where and when do you pray? What is your favorite prayer?* 2/2 #wayoflove #Episcopal pic.twitter.com/tDVsXetbkE

03:01PM Oct 29

iamepiscopalian
Jesus teaches us to come before God with humble hearts, boldly offering our thanksgivings & concerns to God or simply listening for God’s voice in our lives and in the world. 1/2 #wayoflove #Episcopal